I can't put my finger on a single reason. Coming to Australia twice for cricket? Too much focus on cricket? Too much focus on other things? Honestly there can't be a single answer but my last flight in the UK towards my pilot's licence was in May 2008. I didn't take another training flight until May 2019. A lot happened in between, the single biggest trauma in my life began to unfold in November 2008 and took its toll well into 2009 and beyond. To this day it still causes me pain, but it's dealt with. Saving for a visa and permanent move to Australia in 2013 followed, and settling in while saving for a wedding, saving for a home, working in an industry I didn't like at all for a while before getting a job in cricket and still not relinquishing an amateur cricket career ultimately kept me from flying, as well as multiple family bereavements. But it is not like the thoughts of flying had left me, especially given the influence my late Grandfather had on that particular goal.
Photo: Copyright Lee Gatland Photography |
The truth is that if you want something bad enough then you will do what you need to do to make it happen. From late 2009 into 2010 was when I first really envisaged leaving the UK on a permanent basis after having met Jess. That was my focus, that was my goal. I wanted it badly enough and I got it. Did I ever really want to be a professional cricketer badly enough...? Well, in theory yes I did. In practicality I never did the hard yards in order to get there. With flying, I rather too easily said it was too expensive and put it to bed, resigning myself to thinking it would never happen.
Photo: Copyright Lee Gatland Photography |
At the time of writing I have taken two flights, and I've started a video diary. What would be a great help for me is if you could like, share and subscribe to my YouTube channel, Facebook pages and help me to achieve my dream. Here is my video diary: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5f8SNPsAuOADaADwPuI1mRV4JbFAxGpM
I finally restarted that campaign and began using the funds for what they were given to me for. And now the fire is lit. Flying has to be my focus now, I have retired from playing cricket. Flying will cost me more but last me longer. If I have to wash cars, or sell photographs, or work extra shifts at the Reptile Park to fund it then that's what I'll do, but I have that fire again.
Aviation is my biggest passion, including photography of planes such as this JetStar 787 departing Gold Coast airport |
I would like to take this chance to publicly express my gratitude to Harry and Rohini Solomons, as well as Dave Solomons and all at Kingsgrove Sports for allowing me to work in the cricket industry, in a sport I have been so passionate about for my whole life. Also for being so understanding that my biggest passion is aviation and getting back into the flying environment is perhaps something I have been destined for, I am truly sad and excited at the same time.
So from here on in the Flying For Fred campaign will be more of a video diary than the crowdfunding it was set up to be. There never was any obligation for you to donate, but those who did I remain grateful to. Of course you still have the option to donate if you wish to, then if you're game, I'll take you flying with me so you can share my passion. THAT'S what its all about in the end.
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